City Hall is going ahead with plans to lay off approximately 279 seasonal and provisional employees by the end of this month, officials said.
The city’s $507 million budget contains a $42 million deficit. Property taxes rose to 25 per cent this quarter.
City spokesperson Jennifer Morrill said that 242 seasonal, 35 provisional, and two mayoral aides will be terminated from their positions this Friday, Feb. 26. Morrill said the bulk of the layoffs will be employees of the city’s Recreation Department.
Layoff notices started going out on Tuesday.
According to Morrill, the city anticipates a savings of only $1.3 million from the layoffs for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends June 30. But there could be a savings for the next fiscal year of $4.3 million.
“During these difficult economic times, it is critical that we streamline government and reduce spending.” – Jennifer Morrill
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“During these difficult economic times, it is critical that we streamline government and reduce spending,” Morrill said. “It’s unfortunate, but decisions like these are being made at all levels of government across our state and the nation, and this is just one of many cost-cutting measures the city will be implementing.”
Morrill continued, “All of these employees, whether seasonal or provisional, have provided a great service to the city and its residents.”
Is this just the beginning?
This wave of layoffs is just the start. Morrill added, “A workforce reduction for permanent employees is still on the table.”
The following city departments are laying off seasonal and provisional employees:
• Recreation, 148 seasonal and three provisional
• Health and Human Services, 49 seasonal, mostly from Cultural Affairs
• Public Works, three provisional, 26 seasonal
• Police, 16 provisional, one seasonal
• Business Administrator, 15 seasonal, three provisional
• Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, nine provisional
• Mayor’s Office, two unclassified mayoral aides, one seasonal
• City Clerk/Council, one seasonal
• Tax Assessor, one provisional
• Law Department, one seasonal
Employees concerned
The first round of layoffs may be of employees without permanent or tenured status, but others are taking notice.
Chuck Carol, head of the Local 246 Municipal Employees Union, which represents over 640 full-time administrative employees, said, “I am going to keep a close eye on what’s going to happen next because my members are worried.”
Other employees are already expressing nervousness. One with five years’ experience asked the reporter if he had heard any rumors. An employee with 10 years experience said many of the people being laid off did not know about the layoffs until it was reported by the local media.
This employee also said it was “unfair” as she thought about a young colleague who is to be laid off.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.